If you're anything like me, you love using fresh cilantro to garnish your dishes, but can't seem to go through a full bunch before it goes bad. Luckily, I have some tried and true advice for you. Not only do I have tips on how to store fresh cilantro to make it last longer, but also how to dry cilantro or how to freeze cilantro just before it goes bad.
Cilantro is easy to dry. You can use an oven, microwave or dehydrator to turn leftover cilantro into a dried herb that can be used for up to one year. If you don't have time to dry it, you can also freeze cilantro for up to six months.
While that sounds straightforward, there are a few things you should know about each of the methods listed above. Read on for all the details you need to successfully preserve your fresh cilantro.
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How to dry cilantro in the oven
Okay, so you want to get more than a few week's worth of use out of your cilantro. I feel you.
The most common way to dry fresh cilantro is in your oven. You can dry the herb by baking it at 300 F. You'll then crush it and store it in a spice jar for up to one year.
Here's What You'll Need:
- A salad spinner
- A baking sheet (use a rimless baking sheet to allow the hot air to immediately sweep over the cilantro; a cookie sheet works perfectly)
- Cooking spray (this avocado oil spray is my favourite)
- A small spice jar (there are lots of cheap options on Amazon, but these are my go-to)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Wash cilantro and place in salad spinner to dry. The leaves need to be completely dry before dehydrating.
- Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Remove the leaves from the cilantro stems and spread across the baking sheet. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes. If the leaves aren't dry and crunchy, place back in the oven for up to 30 minutes. Check often to ensure they don't burn.
- Remove from the oven and cool.
- Once cooled, use your fingers to crush the dried cilantro leaves.
- Transfer crushed cilantro to a small spice jar.
- Store for up to one year.
Tip: Every oven is different. Turn the temperature down to 250 degrees F if the cilantro is burning quickly rather than dehydrating.
How to dry cilantro in the microwave
If you don't have an oven or are feeling crunched for time, then your microwave can take on the job.
Drying cilantro in the microwave is the easiest way to preserve the fresh herb. All you need is a microwave, a plate and paper towel. Within 2 minutes you'll avoid food waste and save yourself the expense of buying new cilantro.
Here's What You'll Need:
- A salad spinner
- Microwave
- A microwave-safe plate
- Microwave-safe paper towel
- A small spice jar (there are lots of cheap options on Amazon, but these are my go-to)
Instructions:
- Wash cilantro and place in salad spinner to dry. The leaves need to be completely dry before dehydrating.
- Lay paper towel flat on your microwaveable plate.
- Place fresh cilantro in a single layer on top of the paper towel.
- Place a second piece of paper towel on top of the layer of cilantro.
- Microwave for 1 minute. If cilantro leaves aren't dry and crunchy, place back in the microwave.
- Continue to heat in 10 second increments. A larger bunch of cilantro can take up to 2 minutes to dry.
- Once dry, remove and discard stems.
- Use your fingers to crush the dried cilantro leaves.
- Transfer crushed cilantro to a small spice jar.
- Store for up to one year.
How to dry cilantro in dehydrator
If you're lucky enough to own a dehydrator, it's time to pull it out. Here's how to dehydrate cilantro in four easy steps: wash, dehydrate, crush, store.
Here's What You'll Need:
- A salad spinner
- Dehydrator
- A small spice jar (there are lots of cheap options on Amazon, but these are my go-to)
Instructions:
- Wash cilantro and place in salad spinner to dry. The leaves need to be completely dry before dehydrating.
- Remove the leaves from the cilantro stems and spread across the dehydrator tray. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan.
- Process in your dehydrator at 110 degrees F for 1 to 3 hours. They dry quickly, so check in often to see if leaves are dry and crunchy.
- Remove from dehydrator and cool.
- Once cooled, use your fingers to crush the dried cilantro leaves.
- Transfer crushed cilantro to a small spice jar.
- Store for up to one year.
Tip: Dried cilantro loses some of its potency. For maximum flavour, store dried cilantro leaves whole. You can then crush them just before use.
How to freeze cilantro
There is one other way to preserve cilantro for long term use - and that's freezing it. You can freeze this herb for up to six months.
Here's What You'll Need:
- A salad spinner
- A cookie sheet
- A large freezer bag
Instructions:
- Wash cilantro and place in salad spinner to dry. The leaves should be completely dry before freezing.
- Remove the leaves from the cilantro stems and spread across a baking sheet. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan.
- Place in freezer for 30 minutes.
- Once frozen, gather cilantro into a large freezer bag and return to freezer immediately.
- Store for up to six months.
- When you're ready to use, use frozen. If you unthaw it, it will go soggy.
Tip: If you want to save on time, you can cut step 2. Instead of freezing on a baking sheet, freeze directly in the freezer bag.
How to store fresh cilantro
Storage starts in the grocery store. When you pick fresh produce, it will last longer at home. Here are the factors you want to consider when purchasing cilantro:
- Select bunches that are bright in colour with fragrant leaves.
- Avoid bunches that have wilted, yellow or black leaves.
Okay. So, you have a fresh bunch of cilantro. Now what? You're actually going to place them in a jar of fresh water - a lot like fresh flowers.
Here's What You'll Need:
- a 32 oz wide mouth mason jar fits a bunch of cilantro perfectly)
- A plastic bag (produce or sandwich bags work well)
- Water
Instructions:
- Remove the rubber band from your bunch of cilantro.
- Add one inch of water to your jar.
- Place the cilantro in with the stems on.
- Loosely cover the jar with a plastic bag. Place an elastic band around to secure it.
- Do not wash the cilantro until you're ready to use it, as this can cause it to spoil more quickly.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to three weeks (shocking, I know!). Replace water every 3-4 days.
- Snip off leaves as you need.
Tip: Do not wash the herb until you are ready to use it. The moisture can cause the leaves to turn slimy and cause the cilantro to spoil more quickly.
Is coriander and cilantro the same thing?
While both come from the same plan, cilantro and coriander actually have different tastes and different uses in cooking. The leaves and stems of the coriander plant are cilantro. The seeds of the plant are called coriander seeds, which can be crushed into coriander powder.
Cooking with cilantro
Now that you know everything about buying, storing and preserving cilantro, it's time to start cooking with it.
What is dry cilantro used for?
Well, both fresh and dried cilantro are a popular herb in Mexican, Asian and Caribbean cuisine. It has an assertive flavour that is either loved or loathed by most (personally, I'm obsessed...). It's flavour is often complimentary to spicy foods.
I’ll share some of my favourite recipes using fresh cilantro below. But to make you the master of your own kitchen, I want to share a few ideas on how you can consider using fresh or preserved cilantro.
- Mix it in with rice or stir fry
- Use it in salsa and other marinades
- Sprinkle it on top of soups (like this tortilla soup)
- Flavour your oils
- Use it to brighten up the appearance of any dish (it's a beautiful garnish!)
How much dried cilantro equals fresh
As a general rule, the ratio for fresh to dry herbs is 3:1.
¼ cup of fresh cilantro = 4 teaspoons of dried cilantro
Recipes with cilantro
Check out some of my favourite recipes using cilantro below:
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